Fettuccine with chocolate and bacon

Some years ago, when we were still Dream Satellite subscribers and loyal fans of Discovery’s Travel and Living Channel, I saw David Rocco cook a pasta dish with chocolate sauce called penne al cioccolato. I grimaced as I watched him do it because I thought it was utterly disgusting. What a dolt I was to have passed judgment without trying the dish first. Well, I’ve since rectified my attitude.

Last night’s dinner was fettuccine al cioccolato but, instead of anchovies which David Rocco used, per Speedy’s suggestion, I substituted crisp bacon bits. The pasta and chocolate dish was just so good. The melted chocolate was like silk that coated the pasta. The subtle sweetness was both highlighted and offset by the saltiness of the bacon. An uncomplicated recipe that yields a dish with complex flavors and textures.